NTPC chairman and managing director Arup Roy Choudhury had said it had agreed on almost all terms and conditions of the FSA and is ready to sign the agreements provided CIL promised to give a minimum calorific value coal.

NTPC power plants need coal of minimum 3,100 kilocalories, but CIL at times had supplied coal with average heat generating capacity of about 2,100 kilocalories, according to the power company.

NTPC buys close to 140 million tonnes of coal to fire its thermal power plants. The company has not signed FSAs for 4,500 MW power generation capacity.

To improve the technology in use for driving tests, necessary hardware such as simulators will be installed at the three RTO offices on a pilot basis, and will be eventually installed at all RTO offices, says the HPC report

While the city of Mumbai is working towards better infrastructure and superior vehicles on the roads to have more orderly traffic, it is important to observe that driving is a necessary skill which must be improved in the city of Mumbai through improved quality driving test, says a report by High Powered Committee (HPC) appointed by the Home ministry.

A public interest litigation (PIL-18/2010) was filed in the Bombay High Court by the Bombay Bar Association, dated 29 January 2010. This PIL primarily addresses various issues of traffic management in the city of Mumbai. The petition is regarding improper regulation of traffic, several issues related to traffic operations, technology, enforcement, manpower, road markings, etc. In the 17 hearings held by the high court, several issues related to enforcement and infrastructure was raised. The high court held a chamber hearing of all agencies on 7 May 2012 where in everyone was asked to put forth their views. Subsequently, to look into these issues, the high court directed that a High Power Committee (HPC) be appointed. This article is based on the HPC report.

Improving Quality of Driving Test: In order to ensure that the quality of

driving test conducted by the Transport Department is improved, necessary

infrastructure to conduct proper driving test as per the provisions of Rule 15 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), 1989, such as the test tracks to test the driving skills of the drivers, will be provided. Provision of such infrastructure in Mumbai only will not suffice as the drivers from all over the state and even from outside the state drive the vehicles on Mumbai roads. Improvements are needed state-wide, according to the HPC report.

Action proposed: Providing infrastructural facilities like test tracks etc. throughout the state for better quality of driving test as per Rule 15 of CMVR, 1989. This must be completed in a time frame of four years.

Modern Technology for Driving Test: Use of modern equipment such as driving simulators is being considered to assess the driving skills and relevant behavioural aspects of a candidate in different situations by simulating the scenes. Presently, the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, do not provide for the use of simulators in assessment of the driving skills.

Action proposed: Government of Maharashtra may consider sending the proposal to MORTH (ministry of road transport & highways) and to further follow up for amendments to Motor Vehicles Act & Rules. Once the proposal for amendment is submitted and approved, necessary hardware such as simulators will be installed at the three RTO offices on a pilot basis and will be eventually installed at all RTO offices. This must be completed in a time frame of three years.

Capacity Building in RTOs for Driving Tests: Sufficient number of the technically qualified and properly trained personnel to utilize the modern systems and tools to make accurate assessment and evaluation of the driving skills of the applicants appearing for driver’s license test also needs to be made available to the department as a part of the policy to improve the quality of drivers. Such measures shall help reduce accidents and ensure better compliance of the traffic rules.

Action proposed: Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) to develop suitable training courses for officers conducting driving tests. Additional manpower is needed in the cadre of IMV/AIMV. This must be completed in a time frame of three years.

Refresher Training for Drivers: The Motor Vehicles Act does not provide for a efresher training to the driver, once a driving license is obtained.

Action proposed: Transport Commissioner’s Office to send a proposal to the government for amendment in Motor Vehicles Act for introduction of the concept of refresher training for drivers and further test of driving skills and behavioural aspects for commercial vehicle drivers. Appropriate policy changes are being recommended to make the drivers undergo a refresher training and further test of their skills and relevant behavioural aspects periodically. This must be completed in a time frame of three years.

User

MCGM has invited an Expression of Interest (EOI) for implementation of “Web Based Paring” for on-street parking, which involves electronic hand -held devices capable of issuing the e-challans of parking fees and storing data to the central server of MCGM

In Mumbai the proportion of free parking on roads is ample while the parking cost is low, between Rs5 and Rs20 per hour (Source: Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai— MCGM). Mumbai is at the lower end in terms of pricing for parking. And with the annual addition of more than 50,000 cars (Source: TCO) excluding a larger number in two -wheelers, as well as substantial increase in water tankers, school buses and commercial vehicles, there will be a high requirement of new parking spaces per year. The effect is clear and visible, most of these vehicles land up on the roads for parking in an unregulated manner. The situation is getting alarming.

A Public Interest Litigation PIL-18/2010 was filed in the Bombay High Court, by the Bombay Bar Association, dated 29th January 2010. This PIL primarily addresses various issues of traffic management in the city of Mumbai. The petition is regarding improper regulation of traffic, several issues related to traffic operations, technology, enforcement, manpower, road markings, etc. In 17 hearings held by the HC, several issues related to enforcement and infrastructure was raised. This article covers aspects of parking from the HPC (High Power Committee) Report of the Bombay High Court.

According to the HPC report, excessive vehicles and consequential parking beyond available space has increased traffic congestion severely. Narrow roads and random parking on both sides of the roads has been causing inconvenience for the commuters and pose safety concerns for commuters and pedestrians. A large number of vehicles are parked on the roads, in many cases on both sides of a narrow and high volume road. On some of the arterials, out of four lanes only two lanes are available for an effective carriageway leading to considerable slowing of traffic and additionally resulting into stop -start operation, leading to very high exhaust emissions.

Devising Strong and Effective Parking Policy: A strong and effective parking policy needs to be formulated and implemented, recommends the HPC report. The policy and enforcement needs to ensure restricted on-street parking along major corridors. Parking should be allowed at designated locations only. Strict enforcement of provisioning of mandatory parking spaces by the establishments is required. No “change of use” permission should be given unless provision of mandatory parking requirements is followed.

Action proposed: The MCGM will appoint the consultants/ transport planners to prepare the Parking Policy for Greater Mumbai in consultation with Traffic Police Department. Necessary assistance for hardware required by Traffic Police

Department for effective enforcement of no-parking zones will be provided by the MCGM. This must be completed in two years.

Establishing Comprehensive Parking Unit: A comprehensive parking unit (CPU) for Mumbai should be established that will look after all on road/off road and vertical parking, management, personnel management for operation, marking, metering as well as use of smart cards, other electronic devices for information and effective controls. It can work towards a regime of close to market driven prices (over a period of time) and develop compliance mechanism.

Action proposed: According to the HPC report, MCGM has invited an Expression of Interest (EOI) for implementation of “Web Based Parking” for on-street parking, which involves electronic hand -held devices capable of issuing the e-challans of parking fees, taking photograph of vehicles, noting registration numbers of vehicles and transferring and storing all data to the central server of MCGM. These devices will also have extendibility to use smart cards, etc. in future. The system can be extended to include private parking in malls, large commercial establishments etc. This must be completed in three years.

Pay and Park policy for old and congested areas as well as night time

on-street parking in residential areas: CPU should also work towards establishing area pay and park for night time with preference for local residents.

Parking needs of local residents in old buildings should be considered where there is very little parking inside the premises but that need not be free.

Action proposed: In the near future, MCGM will have many off street parking lots under the provisions of Development Control Regulation and work must be completed in two years, concludes the HPC Report.